{{short description|American basketball player}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}} {{Infobox basketball biography | name = Mickell Gladness | image = Mickell Gladness Heat.jpg | caption = Gladness as a member of the Miami Heat in December 2011 | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 11 | weight_lb = 230 | league = | team = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|7|26}} | birth_place = Jasper, Alabama, U.S. | highschool = Sylacauga (Sylacauga, Alabama) | college = * Lawson State CC (2004–2005) * Alabama A&M (2005–2008) | draft_year = 2008 | career_start = 2008 | career_end = 2020 | career_position = Center | career_number = | years1 = 2008–2009 | team1 = Matrixx Magixx | years2 = 2009–2011 | team2 = Rio Grande Valley Vipers | years3 = 2011 | team3 = Dakota Wizards | years4 = {{nbay|2011|full=y}} | team4 = Miami Heat | years5 = {{nbay|2011|end}} | team5 = Golden State Warriors | years6 = 2012–2013 | team6 = Santa Cruz Warriors | years7 = 2013–2014 | team7 = Reno Bighorns | years8 = 2014 | team8 = Jiangxi Xinye | years9 = 2014–2015 | team9 = Townsville Crocodiles | years10 = 2015 | team10 = Canterbury Rams | years11 = 2015–2016 | team11 = Maccabi Ashdod | years12 = 2016 | team12 = San Lorenzo de Almagro | years13 = 2016–2017 | team13 = BC Kalev | years14 = 2017–2018 | team14 = Bilbao Basket | years15 = 2018 | team15 = Ironi Nes Ziona | years16 = 2018–2019 | team16 = Pistoia Basket | years17 = 2019 | team17 = Benfica | years18 = 2019 | team18 = SeaHorses Mikawa | years19 = 2019–2020 | team19 =San-en NeoPhoenix | years20 = 2020 | team20 = Arka Gdynia | highlights = * NBA D-League champion (2010) * Estonian League champion (2017) * Estonian League All-Star (2017) * United League blocks leader (2017) * 2× NBA D-League All-Defensive Third Team (2013, 2014) * NCAA Division I record for blocks in a game (16) * NCAA blocks leader (2007) * 2× First-team All-SWAC (2007, 2008) * 2× SWAC Defensive Player of the Year (2007, 2008) }} '''Mickell Jawaun Gladness''' (born July 26, 1986) is an American former professional basketball player. Gladness grew up in Alabama, played college basketball for Lawson State Community College and Alabama A&M University, and he began his professional career in the Netherlands after going undrafted in the 2008 NBA draft. In 2011, Gladness debuted in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with the Miami Heat.
==Early life== Gladness was born in Jasper, Alabama and grew up in Sylacauga where he attended Sylacauga High School from 2000 to 2004.<ref name=REVIEW>{{Cite web |title = Mickell Gladness| work = TheDraftReview.com| date = February 2, 2008| url = http://www.thedraftreview.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3773| access-date = December 11, 2013}}</ref>
==College career== In his first and only season playing basketball for Lawson State Community College, Gladness averaged modest numbers with 3.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.2 blocks per game.<ref name=REVIEW/> He transferred to Alabama A&M in 2005 where he played out the remaining three years of his college eligibility. At Alabama A&M, Gladness majored in business management.<ref name="bio">{{cite web|title=Mickell Gladness|url=http://www.nba.com/media/dleague/mickell_gladness.pdf|work=NBA.com|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref>
Due to NCAA rules where a player does not have to sit out one full season if he or she transfers up a division (in this case, from a community college up to Division I) Gladness was able to begin playing immediately as a true sophomore in 2005–06. He appeared in 26 games and blocked 77 shots.<ref name="bio" /> It was in his junior season, however, that Gladness made a name for himself in college basketball. Playing in 30 games, Gladness led the nation in blocked shots per game at 6.3, with an adjusted-per-40 minutes rate of 7.9 bpg.<ref name=REVIEW/><ref name="bio" /> He set an NCAA Division I single game record with 16 blocks against Texas Southern on February 24, 2007.<ref name=REVIEW/><ref name="bio" /> No other player in Division I history has even recorded 15 blocks in a single game.<ref name=REVIEW/><ref name="bio" /> Despite showing similar statistics otherwise, Gladness' blocks per game average dropped to 4.5 during his senior year.<ref name=REVIEW/><ref name="bio" /> It is speculated that opposing players now knew of his shot-blocking ability and avoided getting too close for him to block their shots.<ref name=REVIEW/><ref name="bio" /> Although he did not repeat as the NCAA season shots blocked leader, he did graduate having blocked 396 shots in only three seasons of Division I basketball, which was good enough to be in the all-time top 25 when he graduated.<ref name=REVIEW/><ref name="bio" /> In his final two seasons, Gladness was a first-team All-Southwestern Athletic Conference selection.<ref name=REVIEW/><ref name="bio" />
==Professional career== Gladness went undrafted in the 2008 NBA draft. In July 2008, he signed a two-year deal with Matrixx Magixx of the Dutch Basketball League.<ref name="bio" /><ref name=DAILY>{{Cite web| last = Young| first = LaVonte| title = Gladness playing for Miami Heat in Summer League| work = DailyHome.com| date = July 29, 2010| url = http://www.dailyhome.com/view/full_story/8936749/article-Gladness-playing-for-Miami-Heat-in-Summer-League| access-date = August 23, 2010}}</ref> In 2009, he opted out of the second year of his two-year contract with Matrixx.<ref name="bio" />
In November 2009, Gladness was acquired by the Rio Grande Valley Vipers of the NBA Development League where he went on to help the team win the 2010 D-League championship. He subsequently joined Miami Heat for the 2010 NBA Summer League and on September 27, 2010, he signed with the Heat. However, he was later waived on October 11, 2010,<ref name=realgm>{{Cite web| title = Mickell Gladness Player Profile| work = RealGM.com| publisher = RealGM, L.L.C.| url = http://basketball.realgm.com/player/Mickell-Gladness/Summary/11006| access-date = December 11, 2013}}</ref> and on October 30, he was reacquired by the Vipers.<ref name="realgm" /> On January 24, 2011, he was waived by the Vipers. Five days later, he was acquired by the Dakota Wizards, only to be waived by the team on March 19, 2011.<ref name="realgm" />
In November 2011, Gladness was reacquired by the Dakota Wizards. On December 9, 2011, he signed with the Miami Heat and went on to make his NBA debut on December 25 against Dallas. On February 7, 2012, he was waived by the Heat,<ref>{{cite web| title = HEAT Request Waivers on Mickell Gladness| work = NBA.com| publisher = Turner Sports Interactive, Inc.| date = February 7, 2012| url = http://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat_request_waivers_on_gladness_120207.html| access-date = February 7, 2012}}</ref> only to re-sign with the team on February 11 to a 10-day contract. On February 28, he signed a second 10-day contract with the Heat,<ref name="realgm" /><ref>[https://archive.today/20150211113331/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-02-28/sports/sfl-miami-heat-mickell-gladness-s022812_1_contract-mickell-gladness-heat Heat re-sign Mickell Gladness to second 10-day contract]</ref> but after that expired, he parted ways with the Heat after appearing in just eight games.
On March 22, 2012, Gladness signed a 10-day contract with the Golden State Warriors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Warriors Sign Free Agent Center Mickell Gladness To 10-Day Contract|url=http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/gladness_10day_contract_032212.html|work=NBA.com|date=March 22, 2012|access-date=December 11, 2013}}</ref> On April 1, 2012, he signed with the Warriors for the rest of the 2011–12 season.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/warriors/news/gladness_signed_for_season.html Warriors Sign Mickell Gladness For Remainder Of Season]</ref> Gladness started the final seven games of the regular season for the Warriors, recording a season-best game on April 26 in the season finale against San Antonio with 14 points and 9 rebounds.<ref>[https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/gladnmi01/gamelog/2012/ Mickell Gladness 2011-12 Game Log]</ref>
On September 7, 2012, Gladness re-signed with the Miami Heat.<ref>[http://www.insidehoops.com/blog/?p=10889 Miami Heat sign Jarvis Varnado and Mickell Gladness]</ref> However, he was later waived again on October 21, 2012.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/heat/news_recap/heat-waive-dozier-and-gladness HEAT Waive Dozier and Gladness]</ref> On November 28, 2012, he was acquired by the Santa Cruz Warriors.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/dleague/santacruz/warriors_add_baker_gladness.html Santa Cruz Warriors Add Maurice Baker And Mickell Gladness] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203100115/http://www.nba.com/dleague/santacruz/warriors_add_baker_gladness.html |date=December 3, 2013 }}</ref>
In September 2013, Gladness signed with the Orlando Magic.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/magic/news/magic-sign-osby-four-others-prepare-camp Magic Sign Osby, Four Others; Prepare for Camp]</ref> However, he was waived by the Magic on October 25, 2013.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/magic/news/magic-waive-four-players-roster-trimmed-15 Magic Waive Four Players; Roster Trimmed to 15]</ref> After returning to Santa Cruz on December 9, 2013, he was traded the following day to the Reno Bighorns.<ref>[http://www.nba.com/dleague/news/bighorns_aquire_gladness_2013_12_10.html Bighorns Acquire Mickell Gladness in Three Team Trade]</ref> Following the 2013–14 D-League season, he joined Jiangxi Xinye of the Chinese NBL.<ref>[http://believethehypenba.com/2014/06/12/former-nba-big-man-mickell-gladness-signs-with-townsville-crocodiles/ Former NBA big-man Mickell Gladness signs with Townsville Crocodiles]</ref>
On June 12, 2014, Gladness signed with the Townsville Crocodiles for the 2014–15 NBL season.<ref>[http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/crocs-sign-import-centre-mickell-gladness/story-fnjfzr2z-1226952809114 Crocs sign import centre Mickell Gladness]</ref> In 27 games for the Crocodiles, he averaged 9.1 points, 7.7 rebounds and a league-leading 2.2 blocks per game.<ref>[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=198791955&client=0-189-88242-327335-19755583 Player statistics for Mickell Gladness – ANBL]</ref>
On February 9, 2015, Gladness signed with the Canterbury Rams for the 2015 New Zealand NBL season.<ref>[http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/65934208/exnba-centre-mickell-gladness-signs-for-canterbury-rams Ex-NBA centre Mickell Gladness signs for Canterbury Rams]</ref> In 18 games for the Rams, he averaged 11.1 points, 11.3 rebounds and a league-leading 2.3 blocks per game.<ref>[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=199703642&client=11-8336-151868-356729-23059889 Player statistics for Mickell Gladness – NZNBL]</ref>
In September 2015, Gladness signed with Maccabi Ashdod of the Israeli Basketball Premier League.<ref>[https://twitter.com/iamdpick/status/642766055597850624 Source: Ex-NBA center Mickell Gladness, led...]</ref> He left the team in March 2016 after appearing in 21 games. Later that month, he joined San Lorenzo de Almagro of Argentina, but his stint lasted just three games.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
On May 6, 2016, Gladness joined NBL All-Australian side in China to provide some additional height and defensive play in the three-game series against the Chinese national team.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nbl.com.au/featured-news/mickell-gladness-joins-cpa-australia-nbl-all-australian-side/ |title=MICKELL GLADNESS JOINS CPA AUSTRALIA NBL ALL AUSTRALIAN SIDE |access-date=May 9, 2016 |archive-date=May 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160509155901/http://www.nbl.com.au/featured-news/mickell-gladness-joins-cpa-australia-nbl-all-australian-side/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On September 16, 2016, Gladness signed with Estonian club Kalev/Cramo.<ref>[http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/estonia/211901/bc-kalev-cramo-signs-mickell-gladness-re-signs-martin-dorbek.html BC Kalev/Cramo signs Mickell Gladness, re-signs Martin Dorbek]</ref> That season, Gladness led the VTB League in blocks with 1.5 per game and helped Kalev/Cramo win the 2017 Estonian League Championship.
On September 19, 2017, Gladness signed with Spanish club Bilbao Basket.<ref>{{cite news|title=RETAbet Bilbao signs shot blocking extraordinaire Gladness|url=http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/87gqvic6943fqrbj|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920190936/http://www.eurocupbasketball.com/eurocup/news/i/87gqvic6943fqrbj|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 20, 2017|access-date=September 20, 2017|work=eurocupbasketball.com|date=September 19, 2017}}</ref> In the 42 games played for Bilbao, he averaged 5.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
On September 10, 2018, Gladness returned to Israel for a second stint, signing a one-month contract with Ironi Nes Ziona as an injury cover for Gerald Lee.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mickell Gladness signs with Ironi Nes-Ziona|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/europe/israel/288045/mickell-gladness-signs-with-ironi-nes-ziona.html|access-date=September 10, 2018|work=Sportando.basketball|date=September 10, 2018|archive-date=September 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910131801/https://sportando.basketball/en/europe/israel/288045/mickell-gladness-signs-with-ironi-nes-ziona.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> On September 26, 2018, Gladness recorded a season-high 22 points, shooting 9-of-12 from the field, along with seven rebounds and three blocks in a 100–76 win over the Södertälje Kings.<ref>{{cite news|title=Södertälje v Ironi Ness Ziona|url=http://www.fiba.basketball/europecup/18-19/game/2609/Södertälje-Kings-Ironi-Nes-Ziona|access-date=November 14, 2018|work=fiba.basketball|date=September 26, 2018}}</ref> On October 5, 2018, Gladness signed a one-month contract extension with Nes Ziona after impressing during their first games in the FIBA Europe Cup Qualifying rounds.<ref>{{cite news|title=נס ציונה: הוארך החוזה של מיקל גלאדנס|url=https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-5364567,00.html|access-date=October 7, 2018|work=ynet.co.il|date=October 5, 2018|language=he}}</ref>
On November 14, 2018, Gladness parted ways with Nes Ziona to join the Italian team Pistoia Basket.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mickell Gladness signs with OriOra Pistoia|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/mickell-gladness-signs-with-pistoia/|access-date=November 14, 2018|work=Sportando.basketball|date=November 14, 2018|archive-date=November 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114224231/https://sportando.basketball/en/mickell-gladness-signs-with-pistoia/|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 10 games played for Pistoia, he averaged 6.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}
On February 27, 2019, Gladness joined Portuguese team Benfica for the rest of the season.<ref>{{cite news|last=Guerreiro|first=Luís Afonso|date=February 27, 2019|title=Mickell Gladness é reforço|trans-title=Mickell Gladness has been signed|url=https://www.slbenfica.pt/pt-pt/agora/noticias/2018-2019/02/27/basquetebol-benfica-equipa-principal-contratacao-oficializada|language=pt|work=S.L. Benfica|access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=SL Benfica signs Mickell Gladness|url=https://www.ballersabroad.com/news/sl-benfica-signs-mickell-gladness|access-date=March 15, 2019|work=BallersAbroad.com|date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>
On December 8, 2019, he signed with San-en NeoPhoenix of the B.League.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sportando.basketball/en/sanen-neophoenix-signs-mickell-gladness/|title=SanEn Neophoenix signs Mickell Gladness|date=December 8, 2019|newspaper=Sportando|language=En|access-date=December 9, 2019|last1=Skerletic |first1=Dario }}</ref>
On February 22, 2020, he signed with Arka Gdynia of the Polish Basketball League (PLK).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://plk.pl/aktualnosci/n/19579/wzmocnienie-pod-kosz-w-gdyni.html|title=Wzmocnienie pod kosz w Gdyni|date=February 22, 2020|publisher=PLK.pl|language=pl|access-date=February 24, 2020}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{NBA player statistics legend}}
===NBA=== ====Regular season==== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- |align="left"|{{nbay|2011}} |align="left"|Miami | 8 || 0 || 3.5 || .333 || .000 || .000 || 1.4 || '''.3''' || .1 || .1 || .3 |- |align="left"|{{nbay|2011}} |align="left"|Golden State | '''18''' || '''7''' || '''12.4''' || '''.429''' || .000 || '''.500''' || '''2.6''' || .2 || '''.2''' || '''1.1''' || '''3.0''' |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career | 26 || 7 || 9.7 || .424 || .000 || .500 || 2.2 || .2 || .2 || .8 || 2.2 {{s-end}}
===NBL=== ====Regular season==== {{NBA player statistics start}} |- |align="left"|2014–15 |align="left"|Townsville | 27 || 27 || 25.1 || .531 || .000 || .506 || 7.7 || .4 || .3 || 2.2 || 9.1 |- class="sortbottom" | style="text-align:center;" colspan="2" | Career | 27 || 27 || 25.1 || .531 || .000 || .506 || 7.7 || .4 || .3 || 2.2 || 9.1 {{s-end}}
==Personal life== Gladness and his wife Adriana have two sons.<ref>[http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/67463603/from-the-nba-to-nz-no-regrets-for-new-canterbury-ram-mickell-gladness From the NBA to NZ: No regrets for new Canterbury Ram Mickell Gladness]</ref>
==See also== *List of NCAA Division I men's basketball players with 13 or more blocks in a game *List of NCAA Division I men's basketball season blocks leaders *List of NCAA Division I men's basketball career blocks leaders
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{basketballstats|bbr=g/gladnmi01}} *[http://stats.nbadleague.com/player/#!/202148/ NBA D-League profile] *[https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Mickell-Gladness/Summary/11006 RealGM profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20141208195129/http://www.nbl.com.au/article/id/3po77ngpgzx41amxkao7psme7 R9 Preview: Rejections with Gladness] *[http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=198791955&client=0-189-88242-327335-19755583 ANBL stats] *[https://www.ballersabroad.com/mickell-gladness.html Ballers Abroad profile]
{{NCAA Division I men's basketball blocks champion}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gladness, Mickell}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen Category:Alabama A&M Bulldogs basketball players Category:American expatriate basketball people in Argentina Category:American expatriate basketball people in Australia Category:American expatriate basketball people in China Category:American expatriate basketball people in Estonia Category:American expatriate basketball people in Israel Category:American expatriate basketball people in Italy Category:American expatriate basketball people in the Netherlands Category:American expatriate basketball people in New Zealand Category:American expatriate basketball people in Portugal Category:American expatriate basketball people in Spain Category:American men's 3x3 basketball players Category:American men's basketball players Category:Arka Gdynia (basketball) players Category:Basketball players from Birmingham, Alabama Category:BC Kalev/Cramo players Category:Big3 players Category:Bilbao Basket players Category:Canterbury Rams players Category:Centers (basketball) Category:Dakota Wizards players Category:Golden State Warriors players Category:Ironi Ness Ziona B.C. players Category:Junior college men's basketball players in the United States Category:Liga ACB players Category:Maccabi Ashdod B.C. players Category:Matrixx Magixx players Category:Miami Heat players Category:People from Sylacauga, Alabama Category:Sportspeople from Talladega County, Alabama Category:Pistoia Basket 2000 players Category:Reno Bighorns players Category:Rio Grande Valley Vipers players Category:S.L. Benfica basketball players Category:San Lorenzo de Almagro (basketball) players Category:San-en NeoPhoenix players Category:Santa Cruz Warriors players Category:SeaHorses Mikawa players Category:Townsville Crocodiles players Category:Undrafted NBA players Category:21st-century American sportsmen